Uniform

Uniform is a term that denotes a single form, standard, or consistent appearance across a group or context. The word comes from Latin uniformis, via Old French uniforme, meaning 'one form' or 'made of one form'.

In clothing, a uniform is a standard outfit worn by members of an organization such as a school, military, police, or workplace. Uniforms serve identification, signify rank or role, promote discipline, and improve safety or efficiency. They may include insignia, colors, and specific dress codes; variations exist by occupation and season.

In institutions and manufacturing, uniforms and dress codes promote a cohesive image, simplify dressing, and can reduce peer pressure linked to fashion. Critics point to costs, cultural expression, and the potential for discrimination.

In mathematics and statistics, uniform refers to several related ideas. A uniform distribution is one in which all outcomes in a range are equally likely. The continuous uniform distribution on [a,b] has mean (a+b)/2 and variance (b−a)^2/12; a discrete uniform distribution assigns equal probability to a finite set of values. Uniform convergence describes a sequence of functions that converges to a limit uniformly, preserving many analytical properties. Uniform continuity strengthens ordinary continuity by requiring the same delta for all domain points, making the rate of approach independent of location.

Other uses include uniformity in design and color, where a uniform color or texture across a product line supports consistency.